Narrator Dion Graham's portrayal of Courtney "Coop" Cooper pulls listeners into this portrayal of three teens and their complicated relationship dynamics. Coop, who is straight and cisgender, longs for something more with his best friend, Jupe, but Jupe, a lesbian, is oblivious. Their relationship changes when Rae Chin appears and seems to like both of them. Graham excels at emotion, ably expressing Coop's puzzlement at female behavior. His confusion is mirrored by Kim Mai Guest's depictions of Rae's misunderstandings of her two new friends. Guest's portrayals of Rae and her sister are heartfelt and appealing. Author Stone's delivery does not always differentiate characters, but she more than compensates with a complex, poignant look at adolescent friendship, gender, and sexuality. Her story's ending and author's note will satisfy listeners.
(Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: 2018
Duration: 8 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780525635970
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Listeners follow Merry, the longbow girl, one of the best archers in her town. When she finds a magical portal in the forest that takes her back to sixteenth-century Wales, she must use her skills to win an archery contest in order to help her ancestors keep their land. While narrator Emily Wilden brings protagonist Merry to life with a rich Welsh accent, her narration seems uneven at times. All the period characters have accents that reflect the setting of the story and transport listeners to Wales. Listeners who enjoy historical fiction and a bit of fantasy will be charmed by this tale of determination, hope, and family.
Young AdultPub Date:
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781501916793
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In 1832 thirteen-year-old Charlotte Doyle is sailing from Liverpool to Rhode Island to rejoin her family. Shocked to discover that the families who were to have been both guardians and companions will not accompany her, Charlotte embarks on a journey filled with terror and swashbuckling adventure. The first-person narrative makes this Newbery Honor book a wonderful choice for recording. O'Karma's reading, with its hint of cross-gender differentiation, allows the listener to feel as if Charlotte Doyle herself were relating the tale. This story should be particularly alluring to adolescent girls although the fast-paced action and the nautical setting will also appeal to male listeners. Ages 12-adult.
Ages 12+Pub Date:
Duration: 6 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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